Filmhouse Group has announced security enhancements across all its locations and paid tribute to two frontline guards following a deadly breach attempt at its Lekki cinema in Lagos State, which left one security officer and the assailant dead.
The incident occurred on Friday night when an intruder armed with a machete and a knife attempted to force his way into the leisure facility. Guards stationed at the entrance intercepted the suspect, preventing him from penetrating the internal halls filled with cinema patrons and retail workers. Denied entry, the assailant launched a violent attack, fatally stabbing one guard and severely injuring a second.
Witnessing the stabbing, an enraged crowd mobbed the suspect, who sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. The Lagos State Police Command, speaking through spokesperson SP Adebisi Abimbola, confirmed the two fatalities and opened a formal homicide investigation.
Reacting to the incident, Filmhouse Group praised the security officers for putting themselves in harm’s way to protect guests and staff.
“Both individuals stood between danger and the people in their care, and it is through their bravery that the situation was contained and safety restored,” Filmhouse said in a statement. “Their commitment and courage in that moment will not be forgotten.”
The company clarified that the attack occurred outside the main building in the parking area and was unrelated to regular cinema operations. Filmhouse assured patrons that immediate measures had been taken to safeguard all facilities, stating, “Security across all our locations has been increased and prioritized, and the safety of our guests and everyone within our premises remains of the utmost importance to us.”
As part of standard investigative procedure, police detectives have taken the cinema’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) into custody to review operational protocols and duty of care compliance. Law enforcement officers are currently reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to establish a precise timeline and determine if the attacker had accomplices.
